U.S. patent application number 11/485122 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-15 for wagering game having expanding symbol for triggering bonus game.
This patent application is currently assigned to WMS Gaming Inc.. Invention is credited to Benjamin T. Gomez.
Application Number | 20070060261 11/485122 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37855928 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070060261 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gomez; Benjamin T. |
March 15, 2007 |
Wagering game having expanding symbol for triggering bonus game
Abstract
A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes an
expandable bonus-game symbol that expands to cover additional
paylines and trigger a bonus game.
Inventors: |
Gomez; Benjamin T.;
(Chicago, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JENKENS & GILCHRIST, P.C.
225 WEST WASHINGTON
SUITE 2600
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Assignee: |
WMS Gaming Inc.
|
Family ID: |
37855928 |
Appl. No.: |
11/485122 |
Filed: |
July 12, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60709842 |
Aug 19, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/16 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/34 20130101;
G07F 17/3258 20130101; G07F 17/3244 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/016 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A gaming machine comprising: a value input device for receiving
a wager; a display region for displaying symbols at respective
symbol locations in visual association with at least one active
payline, said displayed symbols being selected from a plurality of
symbols, said plurality of symbols including an expandable
bonus-game symbol; and wherein in response to said expandable
bonus-game symbol being located at a first of said symbol
locations, said expandable bonus-game symbol expands to a second of
said symbol locations to complete a bonus-game-triggering event
along said at least one active payline.
2. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said display region
includes a plurality of reels for said displaying of said symbols,
each of said plurality of reels including said expandable
bonus-game symbol.
3. The gaming machine of claim 2, wherein said plurality of reels
are video reels.
4. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said expandable
bonus-game symbol is activated upon a player providing an
additional wager input.
5. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said symbols along said
at least one active payline indicate a randomly selected outcome
selected from a plurality of outcomes.
6. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said expandable
bonus-game symbol is associated with a multiplier for increasing a
bonus payout.
7. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said expandable
bonus-game symbol expands to a third of said symbol locations.
8. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said expandable
bonus-game symbol located at said first of said symbol locations is
removed from said first of said symbol locations upon expansion of
said expandable bonus-game symbol.
9. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said bonus-game
triggering event includes three of said bonus-game symbol along
said at least one active payline.
10. A method of conducting a wagering game, said wagering game
including a plurality of symbols having at least one expandable
bonus-game symbol, the method comprising: receiving a wager input;
displaying a randomly selected outcome for a basic game from a
plurality of outcomes that is indicated by a symbol combination
from said plurality of symbols; achieving an outcome including said
at least one expandable bonus-game symbol; expanding said at least
one expandable bonus-game symbol to another symbol location to
complete a bonus-game triggering symbol combination; and in
response to achieving said bonus-game triggering symbol
combination, conducting a bonus game.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising increasing a bonus
payout associated with said bonus game via a multiplier associated
with said expandable bonus-game symbol.
12. A computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions
for directing a gaming machine to perform the method of claim
10.
13. The method of claim 10, further comprising returning to said
basic game after said bonus game is completed.
14. The method of claim 10, wherein said displaying further
includes displaying a plurality of active paylines, said another
symbol location being on one of said active paylines.
15. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving an
additional wager input to activate said expandable bonus-game
symbol.
16. A gaming machine for playing a wagering game, comprising: a
display for displaying a plurality of symbols on a plurality of
reels, said plurality of symbols indicating a randomly selected
outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to
receiving a wager input, an expanding bonus-game symbol feature for
expanding at least one of said plurality of symbols on at least one
of said plurality of reels; and a controller coupled to said
display, said controller operative to conduct said wagering game
and to expand said at least one of said plurality of symbols from a
first symbol location to a second symbol location to result in a
bonus-game-triggering outcome.
17. The gaming machine of claim 16, wherein said controller is
operative to expand said at least one of said plurality of symbols
upon said gaming machine receiving an additional wager input.
18. The gaming machine of claim 16, wherein said display includes a
plurality of active paylines, said second symbol location being on
at least one of said active paylines.
19. The gaming machine of claim 18, wherein at least three symbols
along said at least one of said active paylines results in said
bonus-game-triggering outcome.
20. The gaming machine of claim 16, wherein said controller is
operative to receive a selection of at least one of said plurality
of reels by a player prior to said expanding of said at least one
of said plurality of symbols.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 60/709,842, filed Aug. 19, 2005,
which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
COPYRIGHT
[0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains
material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright
owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of
the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark
Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all
copyright rights whatsoever.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates generally to gaming machines
and methods for playing wagering games, and more particularly to a
gaming machine and a method of playing a wagering game having an
expanding symbol for triggering a bonus game. BACKGROUND OF THE
INVENTION
[0004] Gaming machines, such as slot machines, video poker machines
and the like, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for
years. Generally, the popularity of such machines with players is
dependent on the likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of winning
money at the machine and the intrinsic entertainment value of the
machine relative to other available gaming options. Where the
available gaming options include a number of competing machines and
the expectation of winning at each machine is roughly the same (or
believed to be the same), players are likely to be attracted to the
most entertaining and exciting machines. Shrewd operators
consequently strive to employ the most entertaining and exciting
machines, features, and enhancements available because such
machines attract frequent play and, hence, increase profitability
to the operator. Therefore, there is a continuing need for gaming
machine manufacturers to continuously develop new games and
improved gaming enhancements that attract frequent play through
enhanced entertainment value to the player.
[0005] One concept successfully employed to enhance the
entertainment value of a game is the concept of a "secondary" or
"bonus" game that may be played in conjunction with a "basic" game.
The bonus game may comprise any type of game, either similar to or
completely different from the basic game, which is entered upon the
occurrence of a selected event or outcome in the basic game.
Generally, bonus games provide a greater expectation of winning
than the basic game and may also be accompanied with more
attractive or unusual video displays and/or audio. Bonus games may,
additionally, award players with "progressive jackpot" awards
funded, at least in part, by a percentage of coin-in from the
gaming machine or a plurality of participating gaming machines.
[0006] Because the bonus game concept offers tremendous advantages
in player appeal and excitement relative to other known games, and
because such games are attractive to both players and operators,
there is a continuing need to develop gaming machines with new
types of bonus games and new ways of triggering the bonus games to
satisfy the demands of players and operators alike.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, a gaming
machine includes a value input device for receiving a wager and a
display region for displaying symbols at respective symbol
locations in visual association with at least one active payline.
The displayed symbols are selected from a plurality of symbols. The
plurality of symbols includes an expandable bonus-game symbol. In
response to the expandable bonus-game symbol being located at a
first symbol location, the expandable bonus-game symbol expands to
a second symbol location to complete a bonus-game-triggering event
along at least one active payline.
[0008] According to another aspect of the invention, a method of
conducting a wagering game is disclosed. The wagering game includes
a plurality of symbols having at least one expandable bonus-game
symbol. The method includes receiving a wager input and displaying
a randomly selected outcome for a basic game from a plurality of
outcomes that is indicated by a symbol combination from the
plurality of symbols. The method also includes achieving an outcome
that includes at least one expandable bonus-game symbol and
expanding the at least one expandable bonus-game symbol to another
symbol location to complete a bonus-game triggering symbol
combination. The method further includes, in response to achieving
the bonus-game triggering symbol combination, conducting a bonus
game.
[0009] According to yet another aspect of the invention, a computer
readable storage medium is encoded with instructions for directing
a gaming device to perform the above method.
[0010] According to yet another aspect of the invention, a gaming
machine for playing a wagering game includes a display for
displaying a plurality of symbols on a plurality of reels. The
plurality of symbols indicates a randomly selected outcome selected
from a plurality of outcomes in response to receiving a wager
input. The gaming machine also includes an expanding bonus-game
symbol feature for expanding at least one of the plurality of
symbols on at least one of the plurality of reels. The gaming
machine further includes a controller coupled to the display. The
controller operates to conduct the wagering game and to expand at
least one of the plurality of symbols from a first symbol location
to a second symbol location to result in a bonus-game-triggering
outcome.
[0011] Additional aspects of the invention are apparent to those of
ordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed description of
various embodiments, made with reference to the drawings, a brief
description of which is provided below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gaming machine according
to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the gaming machine of FIG.
1.
[0014] FIG. 3 illustrates a primary display showing a wagering game
with a missed bonus outcome according to one embodiment of the
present invention.
[0015] FIG. 4 illustrates the primary display of FIG. 3 having an
expandable symbol for triggering a bonus game.
[0016] FIG. 5 illustrates the primary display of FIG. 3 having an
active payline that is completed via the expandable bonus-game
symbol.
[0017] FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a bonus game that is
triggered via the expandable bonus-game symbol.
[0018] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications
and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way
of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein.
It should be understood, however, that the invention is not
intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather,
the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and
alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention
as defined by the appended claims.
DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0019] While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many
different forms, there is shown in the drawings and is herein
described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the
understanding that the present disclosure shall be considered as an
exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not
intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the
embodiments illustrated.
[0020] The present invention is directed to a gaming machine and a
method of playing a wagering game at the gaming machine that
includes player-attractive features that enhance game-play and
offer players more ways to win. The wagering game of the present
invention includes an expandable symbol for triggering a bonus
game. In one embodiment, the expandable symbol expands in at least
one reel of the gaming machine to complete an active payline and
trigger a bonus game.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, a gaming machine 10 is used in gaming
establishments such as casinos. With regard to the present
invention, the gaming machine 10 may be any type of gaming machine
and may have varying structures and methods of operation. For
example, the gaming machine 10 may be an electromechanical gaming
machine configured to play mechanical slots, or it may be an
electronic gaming machine configured to play a video casino game,
such as blackjack, slots, keno, poker, blackjack, roulette,
etc.
[0022] The gaming machine 10 comprises a housing 12 and includes
input devices, including a value input device 18 and a player input
device 24. For output, the gaming machine 10 includes a primary
display 14 for showing information about the basic wagering game.
The primary display 14 can also show information about a bonus
wagering game and a progressive wagering game. The gaming machine
10 may also include a secondary display 16 for showing game events,
game outcomes, and/or signage information. While these typical
components found in the gaming machine 10 are described below, it
should be understood that numerous other elements may exist and may
be used in any number of combinations to create various forms of a
gaming machine 10.
[0023] The value input device 18 may be provided in many forms,
individually or in combination, and is preferably located on the
front of the housing 12. The value input device 18 receives
currency and/or credits inserted by a player. The value input
device 18 may include a coin acceptor 20 for receiving coin
currency (see FIG. 1). Alternatively, or in addition, the value
input device 18 may include a bill acceptor 22 for receiving paper
currency. Furthermore, the value input device 18 may include a
ticket reader, or barcode scanner for reading information stored on
a credit ticket, a card, or other tangible portable credit storage
device. The credit ticket or card may also authorize access to a
central account, which can transfer money to the gaming machine
10.
[0024] The player input device 24 comprises a plurality of push
buttons 26 on a button panel for operating the gaming machine 10.
In addition, or alternatively, the player input device 24 may
comprise a touch screen 28 mounted by adhesive, tape, or the like
over the primary display 14 and/or secondary display 16. The touch
screen 28 contains soft touch keys 30 denoted by graphics on the
underlying primary display 14 used to operate the gaming machine
10. The touch screen 28 provides players with an alternative method
of input. A player enables a desired function either by touching
the touch screen 28 at an appropriate touch key 30, or by pressing
an appropriate push button 26 on the button panel. The touch keys
30 may be used to implement the same functions as push buttons 26.
Alternatively, the push buttons 26 may provide inputs for one
aspect of game operation while the touch keys 30 may allow for
input needed for another aspect of game operation.
[0025] The various components of the gaming machine 10 may be
connected directly to, or contained within, the housing 12 as seen
in FIG. 1, or may be located outboard of the housing 12 and
connected to the housing 12 via a variety of different wired or
wireless connection methods. Thus, the gaming machine 10 comprises
these components whether housed in the housing 12, or outboard of
the housing 12 and connected remotely.
[0026] The operation of the basic wagering game is shown to the
player on the primary display 14. The primary display 14 can also
show the bonus game associated with the basic wagering game. The
primary display 14 may take the form of a cathode ray tube (CRT), a
high resolution LCD, a plasma display, an LED, or any other type of
display suitable for use in the gaming machine 10. As shown, the
primary display 14 includes the touch screen 28 overlaying the
entire monitor (or a portion thereof) to allow players to make
game-related selections. Alternatively, the primary display 14 of
the gaming machine 10 may include a number of mechanical reels to
display the outcome in visual associated to at least one payline
32. In the illustrated embodiment, the gaming machine 10 is an
"upright" version in which the primary display 14 is oriented
vertically relative to the player. Alternatively, the gaming
machine may be a "slant-top" version in which the primary display
14 is slanted at about a thirty-degree angle towards the player of
the gaming machine 10.
[0027] A player begins play of the basic wagering game by making a
wager via the value input device 18 of the gaming machine 10. A
player can select play by using the player input device 24, via the
buttons 26 or the touch screen keys 30. The basic game consists of
a plurality of symbols arranged in an array, and includes at least
one payline 32 indicating one or more outcomes of the basic game;
such outcomes are randomly selected in response to the wagering
input by the player.
[0028] In some embodiments, the gaming machine 10 may also include
a player information reader 52 allowing for identification of a
player by reading a card with information indicating his or her
true identity. The player information reader 52 is shown in FIG. 1
as a card reader, but may take on many forms including a ticket
reader, bar code scanner, RFID transceiver, or computer readable
storage medium interface. Currently, casinos use this
identification for rewarding certain players with complimentary
services or special offers. For example, a player may be enrolled
in the gaming establishment's loyalty club and may be awarded
certain complimentary services as that player collects points in
his or her player-tracking account. The player inserts his or her
card into the player information reader 52, allowing the casino's
computers to register that player's wagering at the gaming machine
10. The gaming machine 10 may use the secondary display 16 or other
dedicated player-tracking display for providing the player with
information about his or her account or other player-specific
information. Also, in some embodiments, the information reader 52
may be used to restore game assets that the player achieved and
saved during a previous game session.
[0029] Turning now to FIG. 2, the various components of the gaming
machine 10 are controlled by a central processing unit (CPU) 34,
also referred to herein as a controller or processor (such as a
microcontroller or microprocessor). To provide gaming functions,
the controller 34 executes one or more game programs stored in a
computer readable storage medium, in the form of memory 36. The
controller 34 performs the random selection using a random number
generator (RNG) of an outcome from the plurality of possible
outcomes of the wagering game. Alternatively, the random event may
be determined at a remote controller. The remote controller may use
either an RNG or a pooling scheme for its central determination of
a game outcome. It should be noted that the controller 34 may
include one or more microprocessors, including but not limited to a
master processor, a slave processor, and a secondary or parallel
processor.
[0030] The controller 34 is also coupled to the system memory 36
and a money/credit detector 38. The system memory 36 may comprise a
volatile memory (i.e., a random-access memory [RAM]) and a
non-volatile memory (i.e., an EEPROM). The system memory 36 may
include multiple RAM and multiple program memories. The
money/credit detector 38 signals the processor that money and/or
credits were input via the value input device 18. Preferably, these
components are located within the housing 12 of the gaming machine
10. However, as explained above, these components may be located
outboard of the housing 12 and connected to the remainder of the
components of the gaming machine 10 via a variety of different
wired or wireless connection methods.
[0031] As seen in FIG. 2, the controller 34 is also connected to,
and controls, the primary display 14, the player input device 24,
and a payoff mechanism 40. The payoff mechanism 40 is operable in
response to instructions from the controller 34 to award a payoff
to the player in response to certain winning outcomes that might
occur in the basic game or the bonus game(s). The payoff may be
provided in the form of points, bills, tickets, coupons, cards,
etc. For example, in FIG. 1, the payoff mechanism 40 includes both
a ticket printer 42 and a coin outlet 44. However, any of a variety
of payoff mechanisms 40 well known in the art may be implemented,
including cards, coins, tickets, smartcards, cash, etc. One or more
pay tables stored in the system memory 36 determine the payoff
amounts distributed by the payoff mechanism 40.
[0032] Communications between the controller 34 and both the
peripheral components of the gaming machine 10 and external systems
50 occur through input/output (I/O) circuits 46, 48. More
specifically, the controller 34 manages and receives inputs from
the peripheral components of the gaming machine 10 through the
input/output circuits 46. Further, the controller 34 communicates
with the external systems 50 via the I/O circuits 48 and a
communication path (i.e.., serial, parallel, IR, RC, 10bT, etc.).
The external systems 50 may include a gaming network, other gaming
machines, a gaming server, communications hardware, or a variety of
other interfaced systems or components. Even though the I/O
circuits 46, 48 may be shown as a single block, it should be noted
that each of the I/0 circuits 46, 48 may include a number of
different types of I/0 circuits.
[0033] Controller 34, as used herein, comprises any combination of
hardware, software, and/or firmware that may be disposed or reside
inside and/or outside the gaming machine 10 that may communicate
with and/or control the transfer of data between the gaming machine
10 and a bus, another computer, processor, or device and/or a
service and/or a network. The controller 34 may comprise one or
more controllers or processors. In FIG. 2, the controller 34 in the
gaming machine 10 is depicted as comprising a CPU, but the
controller 34 may alternatively comprise a CPU in combination with
other components, such as the I/0 circuits 46, 48 and the system
memory 36.
[0034] The primary display 14 of one embodiment of the present
invention is shown in more detail in FIG. 3. In this embodiment,
the basic wagering game is a slot machine game, with symbols on the
five reels 60, 62, 64, 66, 68. The reels 60, 62, 64, 66, 68 may be
either traditional mechanical reels or they may be
computer-generated images of reels, with each reel including a
plurality of symbols. Upon receiving a wager input, the payline
indicator(s) 70 indicates which paylines have been selected (i.e.,
activated) by the player. A randomly selected outcome from a
plurality of outcomes is then indicated along the payline(s) in the
form of a combination of symbols on the reels 60, 62, 64, 66, 68.
An outcome indicator (which may include the "PAID" indicator panel
in FIG. 3 ) may indicate whether the outcome has resulted in a
winning outcome or a non-winning outcome. While the embodiment
shown in FIG. 3 includes five reels, gaming machines having more or
less than five reels are also contemplated by the present
invention.
[0035] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the basic wagering game
includes different symbols and/or objects in a plurality of symbol
locations on the reels 60, 62, 64, 66, 68. The symbols are in
visual association with at least one active payline. In this
particular embodiment, the symbols include objects such as fruit,
bells, lucky 7's, jackpot symbols and bonus symbols. These symbols
may vary from one embodiment to another. The present invention is
not limited to the particular symbols shown in this embodiment.
[0036] Once a player places a wager, the randomly selected outcome
is displayed via the primary display 14 on the reels 60, 62, 64,
66, 68. The symbols displayed on the reels 60, 62, 64, 66, 68
indicate the randomly selected outcome to the player. If a player
achieves a winning outcome, the player may be awarded a monetary
award, such as a credit award, or a non-monetary award, such as a
number of free spins or the opportunity to play a bonus game.
[0037] In the particular embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the player
does not achieve a winning outcome on the reels 60, 62, 64, 66, 68.
In some embodiments, a winning outcome may be indicated by a
certain number of same symbols along an active payline or other
symbol combinations. In the primary display 14 depicted in FIG. 3,
the player achieves a first bonus symbol 72 on the reel 60, a
second bonus symbol 74 on the reel 62, and a third bonus symbol 76
on the reel 64. However, none of the bonus symbols 72, 74, 76 are
contained along an active payline, and thus the particular
combination depicted in FIG. 3 does not indicate a winning
outcome.
[0038] According to one embodiment of the present invention, at
least one of the bonus symbols 72, 74, 76 that is achieved on the
reels 60, 62, 64, respectively, is adapted to expand into
additional positions, or symbol locations, on the reels and
influence additional paylines. As shown in FIG. 4, the expanding
bonus-game symbol 72a expands into symbol locations located above
the symbol location of the bonus symbol 72 on the reel 60. With the
expansion of bonus-game symbol 72a into all symbol locations on the
reel 60, the active payline 78 as shown in FIG. 5 now includes
three bonus symbols 72a, 74, 76. This expansion of the expandable
bonus-game symbol 72a completes the active payline 78 and achieves
a bonus-game-triggering event.
[0039] According to other embodiments, the expanding bonus-game
symbol 72a can occur on all of the reels 60, 62, 64, 66, 68 or on
less than all of the reels 60, 62, 64, 66, 68. In further
embodiments, the expandable bonus-game symbol 72a may expand to
cover positions on a single reel or more than one reel. For
example, the expandable bonus-game symbol 72a may expand vertically
into one or more symbol locations as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 (i.e.,
above or below the original bonus symbol). Alternatively, the
expandable bonus-game symbol 72a may expand in a horizontal
direction (not shown) such that the expandable bonus-game symbol
72a expands into symbol locations on other reels to the left or
right of the expandable bonus-game symbol 72a. The expandable
bonus-game symbol 72a may remain in the first symbol location or
may be removed from the first symbol location as the expandable
bonus-game symbol 72a expands into other symbol locations.
[0040] If mechanical reels are used with the present invention, the
bonus symbol may expand via a transmissive display positioned over
the mechanical reels. The use of a transmissive display in
combination with mechanical reels is described in U.S. Pat. No.
6,517,433 which is commonly assigned to WMS Gaming, Inc. and is
hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
[0041] The expandable bonus-game symbol 72a may be activated during
game play by several different mechanisms. In one embodiment, the
expandable bonus-game symbol 72a is activated by a player placing
an additional wager prior to playing the basic game. In another
embodiment, the player may be allowed to select a reel prior to
playing and if an expandable bonus-game symbol is displayed on the
selected reel, the expandable bonus-game symbol 72aexpands. In
other embodiments, the expandable bonus-game symbol 72a may be
available at any time during game play without placing an
additional wager or selecting a reel. In yet other embodiments,
only certain symbols may have the ability to expand while other
symbols do not.
[0042] Once the expanding bonus symbol 72a triggers the bonus game,
the bonus game is displayed on the primary display 14 or secondary
display 16. One example of a bonus game that may be displayed is
shown in FIG. 6, i.e., the "Jackpot Party" bonus game. In this
bonus game, a player is allowed to select certain objects that may
be associated with awards or game-terminating features. It is
contemplated that many other bonus games may be triggered by the
expandable bonus-game symbol 72a. The player may return to the
basic game after the bonus game is finished in hopes of receiving
other winning outcomes and/or additional expandable bonus-game
symbols 72a that trigger the bonus game.
[0043] In some embodiments, the expandable bonus-game symbol 72a
may also enhance any awards that a player receives in the bonus
game. For example, the expandable bonus-game symbol 72a may be
associated with a multiplier for increasing the bonus payout.
Alternatively, the expandable bonus-game symbol 72a may award
additional credits once the bonus game is triggered. In yet further
embodiments, the expandable bonus-game symbol 72a may expand and
award a multiplier that will multiply the final credit award
outcome of the bonus game.
[0044] While the present invention has been described with
reference to one or more particular embodiments, those skilled in
the art will recognize that many changes may be made thereto
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention. Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof
is contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the
claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims.
* * * * *